Third Man Sentenced in Michael K. Williams’ Accidental Overdose, Gets 5 Years for Involvement

Luis Cruz, one of the four men arrested in connection to the actor’s death caused by fentanyl-laced heroin, apologized for his “terrible mistake” in a letter, according to reports

A third man involved in the drug-dealing crew linked to Michael K. Williams’ death on Sept. 6, 2021 was sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday, according to multiple reports.

Luis Cruz was the third person to be sentenced among four defendants involved in distributing fentanyl-laced heroin that led to the actor’s accidental overdose in his Brooklyn penthouse, according to USA Today. The 12 Years a Slave actor, who was 54, bought the heroin from another crew member and died four hours later, authorities said, per the outlet.

Cruz, who admitted to a reduced charge of narcotics conspiracy in April, received the jail term from a federal judge in Manhattan, NBC New York reported.

Deborah Colson, Cruz’s attorney, said he “accepted responsibility and provided a genuine, heartfelt apology,” per the Associated Press.

Cruz — a former electrician — wrote “it was a terrible mistake in judgment” in a letter to the judge, explaining that he was a drug addict and dealt drugs to fund his addiction, per NBC New York.

Related: Michael K. Williams Reflected on 'How Fragile Life Is' in Instagram Post 1 Year Before His Death

Prosecutors alleged that Cruz and the other dealers continued to sell heroin mixed with fentanyl after Williams died. Authorities said they discovered over 500 bags of the substance — along with drug paraphernalia — in Cruz’s apartment, per the outlet.

Cruz’s attorney, Deborah Colson, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

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The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced in September that Irvin Cartagena, 40, from Aibonito, Puerto Rico, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, plus five years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute heroin, fentanyl and fentanyl analogue.

In July, 72-year-old Carlos Macci was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison — along with three years of supervised release — in connection to Williams’ death, according to NBC News.

Macci and three other men belonged to the DTO, an alleged drug-trafficking group before facing charges of conspiring to distribute and possess fentanyl analogue, fentanyl, and heroin.

Related: The Story Behind Michael K. Williams' Face Scar — and How It Helped Launch His Career

In a 3-page letter, Macci wrote, "No possible good can come from incarcerating a (72-year-old) soul, largely illiterate, who has himself struggled with a lifetime of addiction and who has not engaged in street-level sales of narcotics with ambitions of success and profit but rather as someone caught up in the diaspora of addiction himself,” per NBC News.

The outlet reported that although U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams acknowledged Macci's sentiments, she told him in court that selling heroin “not only cost Mr. Williams his life, but it’s costing you your freedom."

Per the Associated Press, Macci said, “I would like to say, your honor, I’m sorry for what has happened.”

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